%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1451621394004271200%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.%%[[quoteright:269:[[Webcomic/GirlGenius http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Klaus2_9769.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:269:[[JustTheFirstCitizen Baron]] Klaus Wulfenbach, ruler of Europa, and dedicated researcher into the nature of the [[WebComic/GirlGenius Spark]] (which he also has).]]

When the MadScientist gains enough knowledge of [[SufficientlyAdvanced technology, genetics, or the innermost workings of the laws of the universe]], as they sometimes do, and [[TakeOverTheWorld the ambition]] to go along with it, they sometimes go ahead and act on it, unleashing hordes of [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke genetically engineered]] beings created according to their own designs of a perfect form of life, SuperSoldiers created and trained by them, [[RealityWarper reality-bending]] [[DoomsdayDevice physics projects]], or other such means of takeover, and thus become TheEmperor. The EmperorScientist is born.

It's important to note that not all Emperor Scientists are [[EvilOverlord Evil Overlords]] working their way on up towards becoming the next GalacticConqueror or DimensionLord. At least one out of every three you'll see will usually be a ReasonableAuthorityFigure, or at least a WellIntentionedExtremist (or KnightTemplar....or DarkMessiah) presiding over an empire that, while it still may be....well....Imperial (meaning it may not ''quite'' be TheGoodKingdom)...is not evil, but instead [[IDidWhatIHadToDo does what it has to do]] to ensure the Advancement and Prosperity of Human Civilization. In rare cases, he may even be a benevolent and pacifistic ruler, which would make him a [[ThePhilosopherKing Philosopher King]].

Emperor Scientists can commonly be found hanging about in various types of [[AfterTheEnd Post-Apocalyptic]], SchizoTech, FutureBadass, and UsedFuture [[TheVerse worlds]], where they will typically be the guy (or gal) in charge of one of the two [[BlackAndWhiteMorality warring factions]] that tend to be battling it out over what's left of those sorts of places. Bonus points if it was their superscience that actually ''caused'' [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Cataclysm]], either indirectly or unintentionally, or directly and intentionally. If their [[TheEmpire empire]] survives long enough to win the war and become an [[TheEmpire Empire]], then they'll likely get their title changed to "GodEmperor of X", where X is something very grandiose like "Mankind", "Earth", "the Galaxy", or even "the Universe". Expect them to become {{immortal|ity}} by this point, if they weren't already. May make the jump (but may not) to actual AGodAmI territory, using their superscience to [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence partially ascend to a higher plane of existence]] while still keeping enough of their physical form around to be visible to their subjects.

AuthorityEqualsAsskicking means they'll often qualify as a GeniusBruiser. That [[TropesAreNotBad doesn't have to be a bad thing]], though, if it provides a cool, legendary central character to [[BackStory build a universe around]].

As a final reminder, this trope applies where a character attains supreme power ''through'' their superior knowledge or TheSparkOfGenius. Literal Emperors who also happen to be scientists (and there have been a couple) are RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technocracy Technocracy]] is the Real Life equivalent.----!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* Dessler from ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato''. He actually designed those weapons named after himself.* Perhaps the archetypal example, Jung Zorndyke from ''Anime/BlueSubmarineNo6'', who flooded the world because he believed HumansAreTheRealMonsters and engineered a bunch of sentient sea creatures to inherit the Earth.* Lordgenome from ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' genetically engineered the Beastmen and other strange creatures that populate the surface of the planet to generate no spiral energy (thus avoiding the wrath of the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens anti-Spirals]]) while still being powerful enough to keep the humans in their subterranean villages.%%* Rando from ''Manga/GetterRobo Go''.* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', while Supreme Commander Gendo Ikari isn't an Emperor technically speaking, he's an extremely ruthless ManipulativeBastard who holds a '''lot''' of power in the already almost almighty NERV organization and has overseen/ordered many experiments to create/improve the EVA's and fight against the Angels. [[spoiler: His actual goal is to be reunited with his wife Yui, whose soul is trapped inside EVA-01 - and if he has to damn the world and himself to do it, [[LoveMakesYouEvil so be it]].]]* Emperor Dornkirk of [[TheEmpire Zaibach]] in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne''. He is actually [[spoiler:[[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy Sir Isaac Newton]]]] magically transferred to a fantasy world, and modernizes the nation he finds himself in with a heaping helping of {{Magitek}} and SteamPunk. * ''Anime/CodeGeass'': Charles zi Britannia. At least, by the standards of science set in the show, since he seemed to have spent a great deal of time working on the Sword of Akasha, and had a near-complete understanding of the AppliedPhlebotinum found in the show. His (technically older) brother V.V. is a much straighter example. He's the head of the Geass directorate which studies geass and would have been emperor if he hadn't received a Code when he was a kid. Since we know so little of their pasts, however, the extent to which their understanding of the show's technology and AppliedPhlebotinum allowed them to come to power in the first place is up for debate. Advanced [[HumongousMecha Knightmare Frames]] and a desire to get ahold of the precursors' LostTechnology ''definitely'' played a big role in their conquest of over one third of the world, however.* Caesar from ''Return of the Overfiend''.* In ''Manga/OnePiece'': Vinsmoke Judge is not only the ruler of Germa, but is also this. The 'Scientist' part [[spoiler: applied in his youth, when he was on a research team and peer to Dr. Vegapunk himself. During their research, they discovered the 'Lineage Factor', allowing Judge to subsequently pioneer the usage of cloning and gene modification]]. As for the 'Emperor' part, being the King of Germa, he is responsible for the Raid Suit technology, [[spoiler: his {{tyke bomb}} children's superhuman powers]] and the Clone Army that Germa 66 employs, in order to one day reconquer the North Blue.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom, main enemy of the ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'', with a side-order of SorcerousOverlord - he started out as just this, but more and more stories have been building up his use of magic.* Subverted in the original ''ComicStrip/BuckRogers'' comics. It turns out the YellowPeril villain he'd been fighting was actually a nice guy who'd just got caught up in his scientific pursuits & left the running of his kingdom to corrupt advisors.* Definitely the Archie-''[[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' incarnation of Warlord Julian Kintobor, AKA [[SonicTheHedgehog Dr. Ivo Robotnik]]. The whole [[UnwillingRoboticisation "turn everyone into mindless robots"]] thing...* In one issue of ''{{Superman}}'', a potential future is shown where Lex Luthor continually lives on through cloned bodies of himself and embarks on an endless war of conquest of the galaxy/universe.* The High Evolutionary in the MarvelUniverse created a race by forced evolution of animals and called them New Men. Then he created an entire planet, Counter-Earth, where they could live. Then he evolved himself into a godlike being and outgrew this trope.* In ''[[ComicBook/LesLegendaires Les Légendaires]]'', the BigBad [[EvilSorcerer Darkhell]] is hinted to have been this in the country of [[{{Mordor}} Shiar]]: the only army he ever used for his world-conquest projects was mostly made of creatures he [[{{Magitek}} Maginetically]] [[LEGOGenetics engeneered himself]]. [[spoiler:Even his own daughter Tenebris is later revealed to have been conceived through his magic.]]* In the first ''ComicBook/{{Micronauts}}'' comic series, the main villain, Baron Karza, was originally Chief Scientist of a benevolently ruled Microverse. He slaughtered the ruling family (except for Princess Mari) and ruled with an iron fist for a thousand years. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanfiction]]* ''Fanfic/ASparkOfGenius'': A ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Franchise/DCUniverse and ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' crossover has Xander, that's right. Xander become the ruler of Romania which he rapidly turns it into the leading scientific nation which all began with the infamous 'Halloween episode' turning him into the son of Agatha Heteordyne and Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, son of the man in the picture above.%%* Possibly Harry Potter's life goal in ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Animated]]* King Malbert, the ruler of the country Malaria, from ''WesternAnimation/{{Igor}}'' is a MadScientist just like all of his citizens.* The King of Siam in ''WesternAnimation/TheKingAndI'' prefers to think of himself as a "modern king" and spends much time experimenting with Western technology, such as hot air balloons.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]* [[MagnificentBastard Rotti Largo]] from ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'' is a brilliant scientist pioneered a cure for a pandemic of organ failures and now controls world government through his biotech megacorporaton. Overlaps with CorruptCorporateExecutive.%%* Ming the Merciless was more or less portrayed as such in the old ''[[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon]]'' movie serials.%%* Another YellowPeril example: Sax Rohmer's Dr. Literature/FuManchu, who aspired to become literal Emperor of the World by eliminating the white race..* Then there's a rare female example from Sax Rohmer's ''Film/TheMillionEyesOfSumuru''. The scientifically-savvy title character wants to eliminate love and control an Empire where women are in charge.* The BigBad from the second ''Film/HeroicTrio'' film fit this trope as a mad scientist taking over Hong Kong using his scientific intellect.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': Fëanor, the High King of Noldor could well be the UrExample. Likewise, Sauron in ''his'' empire, albeit more a subversion.%%* This is the goal of the King in ''Anna in the Court of the King of Siam'', abbreviated to ''The King And I'' for most adaptations.* ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'':** Leto Atreides II has actually become the [[Literature/GodEmperorOfDune God-Emperor of the Universe]] to carry on with a gigantic genetic breeding experiment.** Before him, Dr. Kynes became leader of the Fremen because of his attempts to terraform the planet.** The [[BrainInAJar cymek]] [[HumongousMecha titans]], philosopher kings and scientists, particularly ones that dealt with robotics, cybernetics, and artificial intelligence. ** Though not canon, the prequels state that one former Padishah Emperor, working under a false name, was an accomplished chemist that discovered the properties that made Spice so important. The original books state it was a chemist working ''for'' that emperor, so it all depends what you want to believe.** Muad'dib himself was known as the Mentat Emperor. Considering he was the prophesied [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Kwisatz Haderach]], this isn't surprising. Subverted in that ultimate trajectory of events was beyond even his control, and he knew it.%%* More Creator/AEVanVogt novels had a character like this than didn't.%%* Creator/MarkTwain's ''Literature/AConnecticutYankeeInKingArthursCourt'' decides not to overthrow KingArthur's Court, finding it easier to co-opt them into his new order. The new title he devises for himself? [[spoiler: The Boss. ]]* Mercedes Lackey's [[Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar Mage Wars trilogy]] has both types: the evil Ma'ar, creator of the makaar, and the benevolent Urtho, creator of the gryphons (who regard him as an almost godlike being who created them as an improvement over all other sentients)* In ''Literature/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau'', Dr. Moreau rules over an island full of {{Uplifted Animal}}s that he created through mad science. This was about 60 years ''[[OlderThanTheyThink before]]'' [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke the discovery of DNA]] made the idea of "genetic engineering" a thing; he accomplished his bio-engineering feats entirely [[MadDoctor through surgery]].* The Risen Emperor of ''Literature/{{Succession}}'' invented a form of {{Immortality}} to save his dying sister, and leveraged this into becoming GodEmperor of eighty worlds.* ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', a carnival barker from Nebraska, comes off as a SufficientlyAdvancedAlien in isolated Oz and becomes its absolute ruler through his knowledge of stagecraft and showmanship.* The Eternal Emperor of the ''Literature/{{Sten}}'' series. A brilliant engineer, his twin discoveries of the super-efficient power source Anti-Matter Two and the means of obtaining immortality allowed him to become ruler of the known Universe for thousands of years.* In Hannu Rajaniemi's ''Literature/TheQuantumThief'' the seven Sobornost Founders are implied to have been the first group of scientists who figured out human mind uploading and quantum entanglement, and realized that this puts them above any corporation or government on Earth in terms of power if they keep it for themselves. By the time of the book is set in they rule most of the inner Solar System.* In the ''Literature/NewJediOrder'', the [[GodEmperor Supreme Overlord]] of the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Yuuzhan Vong]] is ideally supposed to excel at the areas of all the major Vong castes, including the [[MadScientist Shapers]], and the current Supreme Overlord, Shimrra, frequently indicates that yes, he ''is'' a skilled MadScientist. [[spoiler: Except that Shimrra is a mind-controlled shell. TheManBehindTheMan is the MadScientist]]. * Justinian in Literature/BelisariusSeries is a subversion. He is a scientist and he is an Emperor, but he became emperor by ordinary means of political scheming and his scientific side was just a hobby until the war with the Malwa made him put his mind to new military technology.* In ''Literature/{{Noob}}'', the Empire, the technology side of TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar, started out as an alchemist finding ImportedAlienPhlebotinum, figuring out how it worked and using the knowledge to make new appliances. His descendants have added on to his work with the long-term purpose of gaining independency form the world's {{Physical God}}s and were eventually OfferedTheCrown of an Emperor who had no heir. Keynn, the current-day descendant, is still perpetuating the tradition via a consequential BioAugmentation program and is actually a millennia-old man who looks in his thirties thanks to the more recent discoveries on longevity.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]* ''Series/DoctorWho'':** Davros from ''Series/DoctorWho'' definitely meets ALL the definitions of this trope. When his Daleks haven't turned against him, anyway. They usually do that on Thursdays.** Rassilon, who basically made the people of Gallifrey into the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Time Lords]]. An impressive scientist even by immortal standards, he found time to invent a bewildering number of [[JustForFun/AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit absurdly advanced technological artifacts]]. Also had a bit of an [[AGodAmI ego]] and may have been into kidnapping beings from across space and time to fight in games for his amusement. Subsequent indolence in Time Lord society may have been a deliberate effort to curb the potential of individual members of their race from also becoming EmperorScientist types.*** In the Expanded Universe Rassilon comes across as a more villainous figure, with it being heavily implied he was behind the accident that left his friend Omega trapped in a black hole. In AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho he is a massive EvilutionaryBiologist, stealing the power of regeneration from the peaceful Vampires and preventing any race evolving that could threaten the Time Lords by imprisoning them in another Universe. ** The Rani set herself up as the ruler of an entire planet just so she'd have an endless supply of test subjects.** The Master, who is of the same race as Rassilon and the Rani, took over the Earth by using mind-altering satellites to will the British populace into making him Prime Minister. He was also responsible for the massive AirborneAircraftCarrier over the Atlantic as his base of operations, and created a paradox machine that allowed humans from the far future to conquer their ancestors in the 21st century.** In "Robot", Helena Winters is trying to become one of these. She's a blue-sky researcher who wants to reform the world based on scientific principles, which means PuttingOnTheReich, murdering people with a robot and trying to start a nuclear war.%%* In ''Series/StargateSG1'', Daniel Jackson became one of these in "Absolute Power." Fortunately it was AllJustADream.* Franchise/StargateVerse:** The Goa'uld OmnidisciplinaryScientist Anubis and Stargate expert Ba'al also started out as scientists before ascending to the role of GodEmperor.** In ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', the commanders and scientists of the Wraith are usually the same people (always at least the same caste); most prominently, recurring BigBad Michael and recurring LovableTraitor Todd, both of whom had great skill in genetic manipulation. (The Wraith are normally ruled by a Queen, but the Queen of Todd's Hive died and Michael created his own armies from scratch.)** Todd also has extensive knowledge of nanite programming, which is amazing considering the last time they had to do that was 10,000 years ago. Then again, the Wraith have a HiveMind of sorts that allows one to tap into the collective psychic network. It's possible that this knowledge rests there.%%* Dr. Chaotica, Ruler of the Cosmos! from the [[Film/FlashGordonSerial Flash Gordon]] {{Expy}} ''The Adventures of Captain Proton!'', a [[ShowWithinAShow holodeck program]] in ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''.* Walternate in ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' is on the way there. He is the US Secretary of Defense and appears to have nigh-unlimited authority. While his goal is not world domination, it ''is'' world destruction, just not his world. He's also just as brilliant as Walter.* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': Annorax in the "Year of Hell" two-parter. Somewhat of an inversion, as Annorax is not interested in conquest but merely re-writing reality to bring back his dead civilization (and wife). His myopic vision blinds him to the consequences of his action, causing a downward spiral where he's nuking entire planets left and right. He also commands his own nomadic battle cruiser and has a fanatical crew, similar to Nero from the ''Trek'' reboot movie.%%** The trope is PlayedForLaughs with Dr Chaotica in the Captain Proton holodeck program.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* In Music/JonathanCoulton's "The Future Soon," the narrator aspires to become this when his warrior robot race takes over the world. [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds But he'll still feel so alone....]]%%* [[VideoGame/MegaMan Dr. Wily]] becomes this in Music/TheProtomen's RockOpera, having near-complete control of the City, if not the world.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* ''[[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Warhammer 40K]]'':** While he may also be lots of other things (DarkMessiah, CrystalDragonJesus, etc), it is made clear in no uncertain terms that The GodEmperor of Mankind was, during his lifetime on Terra, first and foremost a scientist who spent his time laboring away in the vaults beneath the planet building space marine genetics, creating his "children", etc, and that this was the source of his great power. Seriously. [[AllThereInTheManual Read those Horus Heresy art books]].** Technically, the Fabricator-General of Mars also counts as this since he rules the Adeptus Mechanicus, which is pretty much a self-contained, semicutonomous political entity within the Imperium and is only part of it by treaty. They are mostly left to self-govern by the other branches of Imperial government, even the Inquisition, since without the Mechanicus everyone else in the Imperium would quickly lose any ability to maintain a technological society. %%* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' this is the typical role of Twilight Caste Solars, especially during the First Age.* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'':** Yawgmoth was a sadistic biologist who believed in reaching immortality through cybernetic implants. His people eventually caught on to his plots and sent him through a portal to the plane of Phyrexia. Over the centuries, Yawgmoth morphed Phyrexia into his own ideal of paradise and became its DimensionLord. He did later try to take over his birth plane, Dominaria, but failed.** Before becoming a Planeswalker, Urza married the Princess Kayla bin Kroog and was appointed Lord High Artificer of the kingdom, eventually restructuring the military to revolve around war machines, then later appointed Protector of the Realm over Argive and Korlis after the Fallaji conquered Kroog. Meanwhile, his brother Mishra used his mechanical expertise (and his Weakstone artifact) to usurp control of the Fallaji tribe that had enslaved him, and then unite all the tribes into a kingdom.* Malachite from ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}''; a super-intelligent genetic experiment GoneHorriblyRight who sets himself up as ruler of [[{{Egopolis}} the Malachite Isles]] and uses them as a base for his plans of world conquest.* Grandfather, the creator of the Ancient civilization in ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'', was born as a remarkably curious and intelligent member of his species. After realizing that he'd need access to lots of resources to carry out the experiments he wanted to do, he [[TakeOverTheWorld took over his planet]].* Grand Warlord Voss in ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'', who invented a process to "gene-bind" minions to him...and used them to conquer not only his own race but several others. He was already quite high-ranking, but not quite all-powerful; his gene-bound armies changed that.[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Toys]]%%* The Great Beings of ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'', though they tired of the day to day workings of ruling Spherus Magna and made the Element Lords to do that part of the job for them. It didn't [[AGodAmI work]] [[NoBloodForPhlebotinum out]] [[EarthShatteringKaboom well]].%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'':*** Emperor Gestahl sets out to conquer the world with an army of high-tech-- or at least, high-{{Magitek}}-- mechanized infantry [[PoweredByAForsakenChild powered by draining the life out of magical super-beings]].** King Edgar Figaro is a GadgeteerGenius who created the technology which allows the castle to travel underground besides other things.** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'':*** Regent Cid is the regent of Lindblum, one of the biggest and most powerful kingdoms in the game. He also possesses a brilliant mind for engineering, being heavily involved in the creation of groundbreaking new airship technology, despite the fact that he has been transformed into an oglop (small, annoying creatures, similar to vermin) [[spoiler:and later a frog]] And this transformation isn't because of an evil curse or experiment gone wrong. It's because [[YourCheatingHeart his wife caught him with another woman]].*** On the darker side of this trope, there's Garland: the de facto ruler of all Terra, he's also a powerful mage and an innovative scientist; by the time you meet him, he's successfully created an entire species of soulless drones and planted an organic siphon-refinery on Gaia [[spoiler: to slowly vaccuum Gaia's soul-cycle away]]. And then there's his greatest creations, his Angels of Death. [[spoiler: [[BigBad Kuja]] and [[TheHero Zidane]]]].** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2''*** Hope Estheim grows up to become the director of the Academy, a science-based organization, and the Academy goes on to become the main governing body of mankind. This is subverted by the time Academia is built, however; Hope used a time capsule to jump ahead a few hundred years, and when he arrived he decided to take a strictly advisory role in the government of that era.** ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII''*** In the centuries to follow the TimeCrash, when all people on Gran Pulse became ageless (but not invulnerable to death) in a dying world being swallowed by Chaos, Hope stepped up to be the leading figure as he and his research team tried to solve the world's problems. However, 139 years before the start of the game, he mysteriously vanished and the leaderless people of Luxerion turned to the Order of Salvation instead.** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''*** One of the final emperors of Ancient Allug was Amon, a brilliant (though VERY flamboyant) scientist responsible for designing the the Crystal Tower and the artificial moon Dalmund as a power source for the empire, and created cloning technology which resurrected the first emperor, Xande to lead Allug back into a new golden age. After he let Xande take back the role of emperor, Amon took on the role of Xande's chief scientist.* Emperor Solomon Petresun from the ''VideoGame/{{Tribes}}'' video game series was originally a scientist who invented [[AIIsACrapshoot Cybrids]], fought them into nigh extinction when they TurnedAgainstTheirMasters, made himself immortal for that purpose, and eventually took over the Earth to protect it from the Cybrid's imminent revenge. It should be noted that the above example is a {{retcon}} that first appeared in the manual to ''Starsiege''; none of the previous games (Earthsiege, it's expansion or sequel, or Missionforce Cyberstorm) mentioned the Emperor at all.* The Pig King in ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' has aspects of an EmperorScientist despite [[spoiler:not being a scientist at all, and just stealing all of his technology from the aliens in the previous game and/or having Dr. Andonuts do the work for him]].* Count Raum from ''VideoGame/{{Primal}}'' for the [=PS2=].-->"He may be a vampire, sadist, and mass murderer but he's also quite the scientist by the look of things." - Scree* The Cybran Nation in ''VideoGame/SupremeCommander'' is apparently ruled by Gustav Brackman (now a BrainInAJar ), inventor of the symbiotic AI technology that defines his people. He's the least imperial of the setting's rulers, though.* Andrew Ryan from ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'', the "greatest electrical engineer of our generation" and "the bloody king of Rapture"%%* Dr. Eggman of ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' aims to create an "Eggman Empire".%%* Emperor Percival Tachyon from ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank''.%%* [[spoiler: Larkeicus]] was once this in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChroniclesEchoesOfTime''. Though the [[{{Precursors}} civilization]] fell 2,000 years ago.* Kane from the ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries'' is not only the leader of a militant cult whose power rivals that of every first-world nation combined, he's also a brilliant inventor (of weapons, naturally). [[EvilPlan He started the Third Tiberium War intended to]] [[spoiler: lure aliens to Earth so he could reverse-engineer their technology]].* High Tinker Gelbin Mekkatorque of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''. It counts because gnomes choose their supreme leader based on his intelligence and technological skill. Also, he will [[BadassBookworm kick your ass]].%%* Ansem of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. [[spoiler: Both of them. Ansem the Wise is a non-evil version (though he did become [[AntiHero somewhat]] [[GoodIsNotNice bitter]] after being deposed), while Xehanort is most certainly an evil version.]]* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'':** Robert House, autocratic ruler of New Vegas, InsufferableGenius, and a [[TheChessmaster a bit of a chessmaster as well]]. Prior to the war, he was one of the world's richest men, with his fortune entirely self-made through his inventions. He's also the main reason why the city and the surrounding areas survived the war relatively intact, as he anticipated ''the exact day'' of the impending nuclear apocalypse and spent over a decade of his life on planning for the event and its aftermath.** The Think Tank of the Big Mountain facility from the ''Old World Blues DLC'' are this, being a collection of [[MadScientist mad scientists]] who survived the Great War by preserving their [[BrainInAJar brains in jars]]. Most of the Mojave's resident GoddamnBats are the result of their experiments, having escaped the facility.** The Courier, if played with High Intelligence and maxed out skill in Science, in the Wild Card Ending and at the end of ''Old World Blues''. Bad Karma Couriers play this straight, while Good Karma Couriers are a mixture between a more benevolent version of this and a ScienceHero.* Emperor Andross from the ''VideoGame/StarFox'' games, who invented all kinds of crazy warships and bio-weapons to conquer the Lylat system, and incidentally turned himself into a giant brain for some reason.* Dr. Edward Bilstein of ''VideoGame/StarGladiator'' definitely qualifies for this. Once the top physicist for the Earth Fedearation who was responsible for the discovery of Plasma Power, Bilstein was later arrested and exiled from Earth after it was discovered that he was experiminenting on various human bodies in order to further his Plasma Power research. Breaking out of prison while placing himself into a cyborg body and gathering a cadre of fighters and forces, Bilstein had soon declared himself the emperor of his organization, known as The Fourth Empire, and that he now seeks galactic domination of the universe while continuing his MadScientist experiments.* Dr. Weil from ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' may have initially been a mad scientist, but via various {{plan}}s and Chessmaster moves that landed himself as ruler of Neo Arcadia, he became a full blown Emperor Scientist. However, he has more interest in making everyone suffer a fate far worse than death than actually ruling over people.* By ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'', Albert Wesker has set his sights on this. Already a capable scientist, he decided to [[spoiler:exterminate most of mankind, sparing only genetically superior individuals with himself as their ruler.]]* Kastore and three companions in ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic VII'' play a small version of this in that game (leveraging their superior scientific knowledge into becoming advisors to King Archibald, then leveraging that position to usurping the throne of Deyja), and had plans of becoming a full-scale version. Canonically, their plan failed and they never showed up again, but they ''were'' originally going to pull off the initial phase and become enough of a threat through Ancient-level science that the good guys has to resort to a magical doomsday weapon to stop them. Their 'Forge' town caused a massive InternetBackdraft, however, so that plan was abandoned.* Mao from ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice'' effectively becomes this. The Netherworld he lives in is one gigantic demon school called Evil Academy, his father is both Overlord and Dean, and he inherits these titles by the game's end. Unlike his father, however, Mao is a MadScientist whose idea of dealing with a defeated enemy is to drag them off to his lab for vivisection.* Grandmaster Meio from ''VideoGame/{{Strider}}'' appeared over Earth one day and took over [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp a futuristic Soviet Union]]. He then led russian research teams into manufacturing weapons and machines such as a [[GravityMaster gravity-control computer]] to which take over the other half of the world, while researching the mysteries of CreatingLife on the side for [[ApocalypseHow ulterior]] [[AGodAmI motives]]. In ''Strider 2'', he also dables in genetic engineering to [[BioAugmentation perfect his human race]].* In ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'', the Learning Focus can lead to a character becoming this; especially if they build an observatory and [[spoiler:come up with a heliocentric theory of the universe centuries before Copernicus]]. Of course Crusader Kings taking place when it does, the potential wrath of religious authorities and zealots may force the character in question to keep their discoveries a secret: openly being a scientist may (rarely) lead to a violent revocation of the Emperor part - or Excommunication.** The expansion pack ''Monks and Mystics'' takes this further, by allowing the player to join the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism Hermetic Society]] (early scientists, thinkers and mystics), who do stuff like publishing Research Papers, experimentation, building and operating laboratories, inventing stuff like gunpowder and doing chemical studies, but with somewhat supernatural elements thrown in ([[FridgeBrilliance though this can be assumed as a misinterpretation]] of natural phenomenon, [[ScienceMarchesOn as was common for that time]]).* Academician Prokhor Zakharov from ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri'', he's the leader of the University of Planet faction and believes that the key to human survival lies on science and technology. He values research over other unnecessary things, like [[BeliefMakesYouStupid theology]] or [[MadScientist ethics]].** Also, Lady Deirdre Skye, the former head of hydroponics on the ''Unity'', the current leader of the Gaia's Stepdaughters faction, and a genius biologist and botanist. This helps her faction greatly in coexisting and utilising the planet's ecosystem.* In ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'', the Greenfinger of a given Floran village. Greenfingers have a natural knack for technology and excellent intellects by any standards, able to create SufficientlyAdvancedBambooTechnology. Unfortunately, most of their efforts are spent dealing with the fact that the vast majority of their fellow Florans, [[GeniusDitz though not as stupid as they seem]], are [[PsychopathicManchild childish and quite frequently insane]].* Princess Zelda aspires to be a benevolent version of this in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild''. An avid researcher into the recently rediscovered {{Magitek}}, she is more knowledgeable about the Ancient Sheikah Technology than any other non-Sheikah. During her excursions with Link, she also gets excited studying the various flora and fauna of the fields. But her father King Rhoam [[FantasyForbiddingFather tells her to "stop playing the scholar"]] because he thinks it distracts her from her efforts to unlock her RoyaltySuperPower to defeat the soon-to-return Ganon (efforts that have been fruitless up to that point despite Zelda's fervent dedication to the task). A straighter example would be the unnamed Hyrulian monarch who had the Ancient Technology built in the first place 10,000 years ago, though said monarch doesn't get any real characterization.* Dr [=FunFrock=] from ''Videogame/LittleBigAdventure''. In addition to being the supreme tyrant of the planet Twinsun, he also has knowledge of cloning, which he used to create a CloneArmy which subjugates the planet under his will, and teleportation, which he uses to transport his army across the planet.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'':** Most governments in the ''GG'' 'verse are ruled by Emperor Scientists; small, independent technocracies seem most common, but even most of the known royals (such as Albia of Britain and the Storm King's line) are powerful [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder Sparks]]. However, there are exceptions: the more traditionally noble "Fifty Families" still exert some power, but seem to be in decline as their bloodlines peter out.** The foremost mad scientist and ruler in Europe is the image provider, Baron Klaus Wulfenbach. However, Klaus laments that the "Emperor" part of the job description leaves him with very little time for the "Scientist" bit. There is always an uppity petty noble with a new killbot somewhere, who needs smacking down. However, due to the fact that his usual adversaries are truly nasty megalomaniac sparks, his normally highly barbaric and mutilative research into the nature of the Spark becomes merely morally questionable when he uses such defeated enemies as [[AssholeVictim test subjects]].* Emperor Nicholas the Puissant from the Negaverse in the ''Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault'' webcomic. Conquered the earth (and at least one alien race) through a combination of HollywoodHacking, [[RealityWarper reality-bending]] inventions, [[MindControlDevice mind-control drugs]], and [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking sheer ruthlessness]].* In a ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' AlternateUniverse "His Masterness" appears to be one of these. In the main universe, Dr. Steve and Dr. Schlock have this as their long term goal.* The wizard emperor Brian Souballo, from ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure''. He implemented the process of transferring the [[OurSoulsAreDifferent Cosmic Lifestrand]] into clones grown in laboratories known as 'Training Facilities.' He has some powerful wizard lackeys who know how to use the machines but its shown that Brian or Angelo may be the only ones who truly knows how the process works.* ''Webcomic/PlushAndBlood'': Doctor Brown takes over 80% of the entire world, using a peace-oriented political party and lots and lots of brainwashing. Unfortunately for him, two mercenaries decided they didn't want to live in a world where everyone drowns in liquid that destroys their free will, so they supernuke his capital city.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* [[MadScientist Doctor Insano]] of ''WebVideo/TheSpoonyExperiment'', who became President of the United States by voters being TooDumbToLive. From [[SmallNameBigEgo his view point]], however, it's just a brilliant scheme of...running and being elected. Er...'''WITH SCIENCE!!!'''* Music/DoctorSteel wishes to take over the world and become it's emperor, by force of giant robots if necessary, so that he can turn it into a better place (for him).* Gizmatic, the Literature/WhateleyUniverse supervillain and King of the Caribbean island country of Karedonia, complete with supervillain time shares.* [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Doctor Horrible]] aspires to this, wanting leverage his "[=PhD=] in Horribleness" and knack for invention to [[WellIntentionedExtremist solve the world's social ills]] by plunging it into "anarchy... [[ItsAllAboutMe that I run!]]"%%* Razikale of ''Roleplay/ToRule'' is patron both the magics and the sciences.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'':** Vandal Savage. In the "The Savage Time", he builds a TimeMachine and sends technology and information to his past self. Past-Vandal then uses this knowledge to take control of Nazi Germany, design [[StupidJetpackHitler crazy war machines]], and win UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.** From the same show, Chronos becomes one, also via TimeTravel, ruling over future!Gotham (and possibly the world, it's not certain) with a gang of cybernetic Jokerz as his enforcers.%%* Overlord from ''WesternAnimation/SpiralZone''. Yeah, from TheEighties.* In the SaturdayMorningCartoon version of ''[[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', Doctor Robotnik conquered Mobius with his machines, and held on to it for 11 years.%%* Although the canon is, uh, dubious at best on his precise social role, Trevor Goodchild of ''WesternAnimation/AeonFlux'' appears to be this much of the time.%%* Dr. Doofenschmirtz from ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' wants to be one of these.%%** [[WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbTheMovieAcrossThe2ndDimension His counterpart from the second dimension]] did become one and believed Doof-1's inability to recognize Perry the Platypus [[ClarkKenting without the hat]] to be the reason he didn't.* ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'': The Brain, a genetically enhanced super-genius laboratory mouse, comes up with a scheme to take over the world and become this OnceAnEpisode.* Princess Bubblegum of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' ''created'' a kingdom for herself by converting biomass into candy citizens.%%* Zurg the BigBad from ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand''.* Ever since she ascended into an alicorn, [[{{Adorkable}} Twilight]] [[BadassBookworm Sparkle]] from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is another benevolent example as she also focuses on science as well as [[BenevolentMageRuler magic]] while being [[ModestRoyalty humble]].* Most of ''WesternAnimation/{{Kim Possible}}'s'' MadScientist [[RoguesGallery enemies]] have this as a goal. It [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption never works out]] for them.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* Angela Merkel was a former research scientist with a doctorate in physical chemistry, but nowadays is the current Chancellor of Germany and therefore the ''de facto'' head of Government of the [[UnitedEurope European Union]], to the point that the EU had been called the "Merkelreich". She doesn't actually use her chemistry knowledge directly in leading Europe, but her scientific background and rigorous mindset are widely credited with the steady, judicious, cautious leadership style that has made her the most popular German Chancellor in recent memory--and also the most powerful person in Europe, and one of the most powerful (and ''the'' most powerful woman) in the world.* In the Ancient World, you have King Juba II of Numidia, and later King of Mauretania. He was married to the daughter of UsefulNotes/CleopatraVII and Mark Antony (yes those two famous love-birds) and a respect client of UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire. His father fought against UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar, and after defeat, Caesar took Juba as a hostage and brought him to Rome, where he learned Greek and Latin, became [[MajoredInWesternHypocrisy romanized]], and at the age of 20 wrote treatises on Roman archeology, before being sent back by UsefulNotes/{{Augustus}} to sit on the throne of Juba. He wrote a lot of works on philosophy, geography, and other matters, and was cited 65 times by Pliny the Elder in his ''Natural History'', and Plutarch in ''Literature/ParallelLives'' during his "Life of Antony" called him "the most gifted ruler of his time".* Emperor Akihito of Japan, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito#Ichthyological_research in the field of Ichthyology.]]* UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat did not exactly use science to get power, but he used his knowledge and understanding of mathematics, engineering and construction to create an efficient technical and scientific education system, build a modern fleet, and modernize industry. He even approved and edited foreign textbooks for publication by himself.* Rama [=IV=] of Thailand, better known to the West as King Mongkut or the king from ''Theatre/TheKingAndI'', is actually known as "The Father of Science and Technology". He refined geography and astronomy most of all, and actually died from malaria caught when he ventured out to see a solar eclipse. * Tipu Sultan of Mysore was rather fascinated with technology, or rather as much as a warlord in 1700s Southwest India can be. He and his father, Hyder Ali, pioneered Rocket Technology. They used small rockets, in cylinders and as essentially explosive ballistas in battles against their enemies and the English. The English later repurposed Tipu's Rockets and used it in battle as well. Tipu Sultan's court was also associated with the development of a sophisticated automaton known as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipu%27s_Tiger Tipu's Tiger]], which the English claimed as spoils of war after defeating him. Creator/JulesVerne cited Tipu Sultan as an inspiration for Prince Dakkar of Bundelkhand, aka Captain Nemo in ''Literature/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea'' and ''Literature/TheMysteriousIsland'', with Nemo stated to be his descendant. * Alfonso X [[BilingualBonus el Sabio]] of Castile.* While not necessarily a singular example, the overwhelming majority of Chinese leadership are trained as engineers and scientists. * While many monarchs have been interested in the sciences, Frederick II, [[UsefulNotes/HolyRomanEmpire Holy Roman Emperor]], was known to actually do research, or at least what passed for research in [[TheHighMiddleAges 13th-century Europe]], and included that in his attitude towards ruling. He famously ran an experiment in which children were to be raised with no language (to see which one was the "original" language), although that didn't pan out. He also dabbled in astronomy, medicine, zoology, and anatomy, sometimes in experiments crueler than the language one (e.g.: taking two condemned prisoners, feeding them, having one run around and hunt and the other stay in bed, and then after executing them, examining their guts to see whether exercise or rest accelerated digestion). He also did the usual monarchical sponsoring of the sciences, including founding a university (in Napoli; it has since been renamed in his honor). Frederick also had an unshakeable faith in reason and distrust in magic that led him to ban trial by combat (believing that the stronger party would always win, contrary to Church doctrine holding that God would cause the "right" party to win) and doctors filling their own prescriptions (as a safeguard against quackery) that we today would regard as...well...''scientific''. Also, he was constantly fighting wars to secure and expand his territory--and try to put UsefulNotes/ThePope in his place. Unfortunately, his wars in Italy led him to give in to the demands of his German nobles, which then weakened the Holy Roman Empire after his death. Suffice it to say, although Frederick might not have been this, he probably ''would'' have been this if he had the technological base.* Emperor UsefulNotes/PedroII of {{UsefulNotes/Brazil}} was man of science in addition to being a statesman, making this trope rather literal. He invested on scientific advancement and education, was friends with many inventors and intellectuals of his time such Alexander Graham Bell, Victor Hugo and Louis Pasteur. Pedro said on record he would like being a teacher if he wasn't a monarch and UsefulNotes/CharlesDarwin himself recognized his efforts stating "The Emperor does so much for science, that every scientific man is bound to show him the utmost respect".* Like Angela Merkel above, UsefulNotes/MargaretThatcher studied chemistry and worked as a research scientist before going into politics. According to ThatOtherWiki, she was actually prouder of being the first British Prime Minister with a science degree than she was to be the first female PM. [[/folder]]